Out of favour Manchester United shot-stopper Ben Foster could be set for life away from Old Trafford come the New Year, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly willing to discuss a loan deal.

Foster has slipped right down the goalkeeping pecking order in recent weeks, and could only watch on as Tomasz Kuszczak deputised capably for the injured Edwin Van der Sar in United's 4-1 win over Portsmouth last weekend.

And the England keeper was again overlooked on Tuesday evening as Ferguson's side secured their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham with Kuszczak again not putting a foot wrong.

Foster, 26, knows that he needs to be playing regular Premier League football to be sure of his place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad next year, and Ferguson may let him take up the option of a six-month loan deal in January.

Tottenham Hotspur are apparently interested, according to the Daily Mirror, but Foster would be wise to think long and hard about his destination so as not to swap the Old Trafford bench for that of another top-flight club.

The former Watford keeper was a surprise choice between the sticks for England's most recent fixture, a 1-0 friendly loss to Brazil, but knows he cannot afford to rest on his laurels with the eagle-eyed Capello surveying his pile.